Bucket linkage assembly with lifting eye

ABSTRACT

A bucket linkage assembly for a construction machine is disclosed. The bucket linkage assembly is positioned between a work tool and a work tool hydraulic cylinder of the construction machine. The bucket linkage assembly includes a bucket linkage member having a first end attachable to the work tool and a second end attachable to the work tool hydraulic cylinder. Further, the bucket linkage member defines a slot therethrough and a mounting surface thereon. The bucket linkage assembly further includes a lifting eye having an eye portion and a flange portion. The eye portion extends through the slot in the bucket linkage member and the flange portion is mounted to the mounting surface of the bucket linkage member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to a bucket linkage for a construction machine. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a bucket linkage, typically hydraulically activated, that includes an attachable lifting eye to lift objects therewith.

BACKGROUND

Construction machines such as backhoe loaders and excavators are commonly used to perform common operations such as excavation, trenching, and many other types of earth moving and work tool operation. The typical work machine with a bucket linkage, such as an excavator generally includes a hydraulically-operated boom and arm assembly which facilitates adaptation with a bucket or other tool to enable movement of earth or other operation. Other types of tool assemblies may be fitted or adapted to the boom and arm assembly to replace bucket and such assemblies are termed “work tools”. Common work tools are hammers, grapples, shearers and drills, for example.

During digging, excavators may encounter various obstacles, such as large stones, tree roots, logs, pieces of concrete, pipes, and/or other types of similar materials. These objects need to be removed to continue the digging process. One way to remove the objects is for the excavator to use a lifting work tool instead of the bucket. However, removal of the bucket and mounting of the lifting work tool is a time consuming and labor intensive task. This may result in a decrease in productivity and efficiency of the digging process. Another way of removing the objects is by use of an additional machine such as a crane. However, this may result in additional expenditure and thereby decreases productivity and increases cost.

Various solutions have been developed to address the challenges cited above. The present disclosure is directed towards overcoming the above-stated challenges.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure provides a bucket linkage assembly for use on a construction machine. The bucket linkage assembly is positioned between a work tool and a work tool hydraulic cylinder. The bucket linkage assembly comprises a bucket linkage member having a first end attachable to the work tool and a second end attachable to the work tool hydraulic cylinder. Further, the bucket linkage member may define a slot therethrough and a mounting surface thereon. The bucket linkage assembly further comprises a lifting eye. The lifting eye comprises an eye portion and a flange portion. The eye portion extends through the slot in the bucket linkage member and the flange portion is mounted on the mounting surface of the bucket linkage member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an excavator, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary bucket linkage assembly with lifting eye attached therewith shown in FIG. 1, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a bottom, perspective view of the bucket linkage assembly of FIG. 2, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary lifting eye shown in FIG. 2, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the figures. The specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are intended to be exemplary and should neither be interpreted as limiting the disclosure nor the scope of the claim.

Referring to FIG. 1, an excavator 100 may include an upper structure 102, a lower structure 104 and a working element 106. The upper structure 102 may include a body 108 and an operator cab 110. The operator cab 110 is mounted on the body 108. The operator cab 110 may include devices that receive input from a machine operator which may indicate a desired maneuvering of the excavator 100. Specifically, the operator cab 110 may include one or more operator interface devices. Examples of operator interface devices include, but are not limited to, a joystick, a travel control lever, and/or a pedal (none of which are shown but are well known in the industry). The upper structure 102 may rotate with respect to lower structure 104 about an axis X-X.

The lower structure 104 may comprise a pair of tracks 112, to drive the excavator 100 on a path. The pair of tracks 112 may be driven by a hydrostatic transmission or by electric travel motors which, in turn, are powered by a prime mover such as an internal combustion engine (not shown).

The working element 106 includes a boom 114, an arm 116, and a work tool 118. The boom 114 may be mounted on the body 108 at a pivot point 120. The boom 114 is made to vertically pivot by means of a boom hydraulic cylinder 122. A first end 124 of the boom hydraulic cylinder 122 may be coupled to the body 108. A second end 126 of the boom hydraulic cylinder 122 may be coupled to the boom 114. The boom 114 may be coupled to the arm 116.

The arm 116 is moved with respect to the boom 114 by extending or retracting an arm hydraulic cylinder 128. A first end 130 of the arm hydraulic cylinder 128 is coupled to the boom 114. A second end 132 of the arm hydraulic cylinder 128 is coupled to the arm 116. The arm 116 may further be coupled to the work tool 118.

The work tool 118 is moved with respect to the arm 116 by extending or retracting a work tool hydraulic cylinder 134. The work tool hydraulic cylinder 134 moves the work tool 118 via a bucket linkage assembly 136. A first end 138 of the work tool hydraulic cylinder 134 may be coupled to the arm 116. A second end 140 of the work tool hydraulic cylinder 134 is coupled to the bucket linkage assembly 136. In an embodiment, the bucket linkage assembly 136 may be referred as a work tool linkage assembly and may be used to couple any type of work tool.

Numerous different work tools 118 may be attached to the excavator 100 and may be controlled by the machine operator. Work tool 118 may include any device used to perform a particular task, such as a blade, a fork arrangement, a bucket (shown in FIG. 1), a shovel, a ripper, a broom, a propelling device, a cutting device, a grasping device, and/or any other task-performing device known in the art.

Referring to FIG. 2, the bucket linkage assembly 136 comprises a bucket linkage member 202, a lifting eye 204 and a plurality of bolts 206. The bucket linkage member 202 may further comprise a first end 208, a second end 210, a slot 212, a first surface 214 (shown in FIG. 3), and a second surface 216 (shown in FIG. 2). The bucket linkage member 202 is a coupling between the work tool hydraulic cylinder 134 and the work tool 118. The first end 208 of the bucket linkage member 202 may be coupled to the work tool 118. The second end 210 of the bucket linkage member 202 is coupled to the work tool hydraulic cylinder 134. The bucket linkage member 202 is configured to transmit power from the work tool hydraulic cylinder 134 to the work tool 118. The bucket linkage member 202 may move towards the work tool hydraulic cylinder 134 when the work tool hydraulic cylinder 134 retracts. The bucket linkage member 202 may move away from the work tool hydraulic cylinder 134 when the work tool hydraulic cylinder 134 extends.

Referring to FIG. 4, the lifting eye 204 includes an eye portion 402 and a flange portion 404. In an embodiment, the lifting eye 204 may be configured to act as a lifting attachment and allow the excavator 100 to lift a material. The lifting eye 204 is coupled to the bucket linkage member 202 via the plurality of bolts 206. The lifting eye 204 may be coupled to the bucket linkage member 202 by inserting the eye portion 402 into the slot 212 until the flange portion 404 contacts the first surface 214 of the bucket linkage member 202. Therefore, the first surface 214 of the bucket linkage member 202 acts as mounting surface for the flange portion 404. The lifting eye 204 is fastened to the bucket linkage member 202 such that the eye portion 402 may extend above the second surface 216 of the bucket linkage member 202 (also shown in FIG. 1). The lifting eye 204 may be attached to the bucket linkage member 202 by bringing the flange portion 404 in contact with the first surface 214 and then extending the plurality of bolts 206 through the web portion of the bucket linkage member 202 and into the flange portion 404. Therefore, the lifting eye 204 is bolted to bucket linkage member 202 such that the eye portion 402 and the flange portion 404 are positioned on an opposite side of the bucket linkage member 202. It is envisioned that the lifting eye 204 may be attached to the bucket linkage member 202 without inserting the eye portion 402 into the slot 212. Alternatively, the lifting eye 204 may be attached to the bucket linkage member 202 by welding the flange to the bucket linkage member 202 or by any other coupling means or method known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In operation, the excavator 100 may be operated to perform a soil excavation or a digging operation however during such operation the excavator 100 may encounter various obstacles, such as large stones, tree roots, logs, pieces of concrete, pipes etc. The excavator 100 having the bucket linkage assembly 136, may lift such object or obstacle by attaching a chain, for example to the lifting eye 204 and then proceeding to attach the other end of the chain to the object to lift the object away from the work site without removing the bucket or work tool 118.

As previously mentioned, the eye portion 402 of the bucket linkage assembly 136 may be used as a lifting attachment to lift and move the various obstacles, however it may also be used to place certain objects into position such as pipes in a drainage ditch. The various obstacles or objects may be coupled to the eye portion 402 by using ropes, chains, belts etc. Once the obstacle or object is coupled to the eye portion 402, the excavator 100 is operated to lift and move the obstacle or object. Hence, the excavator 100 may be used as a crane to lift and move the materials. With this method, there is no need to remove the work tool 118 for lifting and moving the obstacles. This increases the efficiency and productivity of the work.

It should be understood that the above description is intended for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that other aspects of the disclosure can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claim. 

What the claimed is:
 1. A bucket linkage assembly for use on a construction machine, the bucket linkage assembly being positioned between a work tool and a work tool hydraulic cylinder, the bucket linkage assembly comprising: a bucket linkage member having a first end attachable to the work tool and a second end attachable to the work tool hydraulic cylinder, the bucket linkage member defining a slot therethrough and a mounting surface thereon; and a lifting eye including an eye portion and a flange portion, the eye portion extending through the slot in the bucket linkage member and the flange portion being mounted to the mounting surface of the bucket linkage member. 